LuDGATE — On a Proposed Analytical Machine. 91 



on Babbage's Engine stated that, " apart from the question of its saving labour 

 in operations now possible, we think the existence of such an instrument 

 would place within reach much which, if not actually impossible, has been too 

 close to the limits of human skill and endurance to be practically available."' 



In conclusion, I would observe tliat of tlie very numerous branches of 

 pure and applied science which are dependent for their development, record, 

 or application on the dominant science of mathematics, there is not one of 

 which the progress would not be accelerated, and the pursuit would not be 

 facilitated, by the complete command over the numerical interpretation of 

 abstract mathematical expressions, and the relief from the time-consuming 

 drudgery of computation, whicli the scientist would secure througli tlie 

 existence of machinery capable of performing the most tedious and complex 

 calculations with expedition, automatism, and precision. 



1 Eeport Brit. Assoc, 1878, p. 101. 



SOIENT. PEOC, R.D.S. VOL. XII., NO. IX. 



